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POLITICO 44

The growing belief that Republicans could win control of the House has set off a frenzy of behind-the-scenes jockeying for top leadership jobs — and created new tensions for those currently holding them.

At the top, Minority Leader John Boehner is a slam-dunk to become speaker if Republicans do prevail. But many of the Ohio Republican’s allies are nervously eyeing Rep. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), the No. 2 leader, believing he is positioning himself to run the party if it falls short in November.

Sources close to Cantor flatly declare he will not run against Boehner under any circumstances, in either the majority or the minority, saying his only focus is on getting the GOP back in power.

But the Boehner-Cantor dynamic dominates talk in GOP circles, on both Capitol Hill and K Street, a fixation heightened by the recent comments by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs that Republicans could win back the House. And while Boehner and Cantor dismiss the speculation about a rivalry as unfounded, it has complicated their relationship in the closing months of the campaign.

“I don’t know that Boehner sees threats coming as soon as others do,” said GOP Rep. Mike Simpson, a Boehner ally who was speaker of the Idaho House for six years. “Maybe he’s right and we’re not.”

The one almost-certain race in the event of a Republican victory — and one that could help shape the GOP for the future — is for majority whip, the old power center of former Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas).

California Rep. Kevin McCarthy, a rising star in the conference, is expected to angle for the job, yet Rep. Pete Sessions, the Texan who chairs the National Republican Congressional Committee, could use his newfound power to make a run for whip. Michigan Rep. Mike Rogers is also a potential candidate, and GOP insiders say any number of conservatives may try to jump into the party’s leadership.

The wide-open whip race could create a furious battle for a job that may not be on most voters’ radars but has launched careers for people like DeLay, Tip O’Neill and Tom Foley.

“There may be 400 people running for that,” said Rep. Lee Terry (R-Neb.), who mentioned McCarthy and Sessions as candidates for the majority whip job in the event of a GOP victory this fall.

They should not be affected by the news reportings because if they do, they'll all fall back and always be a prey to the media.

I am not sure how the Republican would fare in this upcoming election but should they win, this would be interesting and hopefully right and left would meet at the center of the agenda. There should always be a balance of power.

"For now, Boehner and Cantor are trying to stay on message. 'Republicans are focused on listening to the people, leading efforts to cut spending so America can get back to work and winning on Nov. 2,' said Brad Dayspring, Cantor’s spokesman."

Listening to the people? This is NOT what Republicans are doing. They are refusing to hear the rejecting cry of Americans, "No more deficit-exploding tax cuts for the rich! No more wasteful corporate welfare! No more failed trickle-down economics (aka Voodoo economics)! No more deregulation craziness. Give us some NEW ideas! Where are your deficit-downsizing, budget-balancing, job-creating plans?!"

Rather than jockeying for leadership (which they all do in this situation), they should be trembling and planning exactly what they want to do and how to present it to the U.S. citizens. For example, they should try desperately to repeal the healthcare bill, but with what will they replace it? How will they dispense stimulus $$? The Financial reform--some parts are good, but, others are ridiculous, while others are really dangerous--what will they change and why? What will it do to protect our borders? I'm not a fan of Boehner, and hope that he would not be a leader, but... I want to hear from people who don't speak in generalities, but, rather, specifics. WHY do they want to do something, and what is wrong with the opposition position? What are the ramifications. I'm so tired of hearing, "It is good for the American people".

Hopefully, if the GOP "wins" it won't blame the previous Congress like children, but, the GOP will do what it was elected to do--FIX it.

The country needs a third party. Or, the country needs more independents in congress. With the current voting along party lines, we need one Democrat and one Republican to vote the party line. Then we need an independent to be the swing vote. What a dysfunctional mess we have in Washington.

How much does this "palace intrigue" cost tax payers? How much time do our "leaders" and their staffs spend jockying for position for a hypothetical reality? This further demonstrates that career politicians are more focused on their own self-serving interests (advancing their own careers) then they are on the interests of constituents and the Nation.

Being evil snakes in the grass works????? The GOBP has NO answers for us!!! All they are good at is FREEZING/BLOCKING the progress of the country, OBSTRUCTIONISM.....AND THEY MIGHT GET REWARDED FOR IT????????? SOMETHING IS VERY WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE!!!!!!!!

I don't care how they divvy up the leadership jobs, as long as those in the leadership are ready to cut spending, eliminate earmarks, and rid the Republican Conference of anyone with ethical problems. We have too much important work to do, to allow anyone to sidetrack us because of his or her corrupt practices.

The democrats are getting fired up now for the Nov elections and the Obama generation is beginning to stir again. On "Meet the Press" Sen Martinez and congressman Van Hollen did a superb job of demonstrating what the GOBP party has been doing to keep America from moving forward. I hope that was the start of the democrats offensive to draw a comparison between them and their accomplishments and the GOP, tea-baggers, "no" to everything in America's interest because they think they can win in Nov by having the American Pres, and in effect America, fail. Oh yes, I am with VP Biden. the GOBP and the world will be shocked at the democrats positive showing in Nov. Remember that Pres Obama is a symbol of change and all the pundits who keep pointing out the historical trends of Pres in their first elections, will be confounded and made to look foolish with their predictions. Change, which is hard, has come to America. Let's go, Obama Generation. We are changing America and that will continue in Nov.